Who is Ruben Amorim? How can his tactics transform Man United?

Earlier this week, Premier League outfit Manchester United parted ways with Erik ten Hag following a wave of uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford due to a poor start to the 2024/25 season. The pressure was already building over the Dutch manager to deliver the results and their recent 2-1 loss to West Ham United at London Stadium acted as the final nail in the coffin, as IENOS-led top brass ultimately decided to relieve Erik Ten hag from his role as Man United boss.

The English giants have now officially secured the signature of Ruben Amorim as their new head coach from Sporting CP. The Red Devils have also revealed the date of his arrival at Carrington will be 11th November 2024, in the meantime, Ruud van Nistelrooy is at the helm as United’s caretaker manager.

In the last few days, the lookout for the next Man United manager was in full swing with several top names having emerged as potential candidates, but the one who stood out was Ruben Amorim, the former Sporting CP manager. Other replacements included Brentford boss Thomas Frank, former Barca coach Xavi, and Dortmund manager Edin Terzic, however, Amorim was always the favourite candidate on the target list.

Interestingly, The 39-year-old Portuguese tactician was on the radar of Liverpool and West Ham United as both the English clubs made contact with Amorim to discuss a potential move to England in the summer. He even travelled to the English capital to meet the representative of the London club, but the deal could not materialise. Nonetheless, the opportunity to secure a job in the English Premier League has now turned into reality following his appointment at Man United.

In this article, we are going to focus exclusively on Ruben Amorim who will be leading Man United as their new head coach, understanding his style of play and tactics, his glories with Portuguese giants, why he is the right fit for the Man United job and what would be the possible formation or lineup Red Devils would adopt under his regime commencing from this month.

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Ruben Amorim’s Style of Play and Tactics

Ruben Amorim has maintained consistency in his style of play and tactics during his time in Lisbon. He mostly emphasises on usage of the 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formation adapting high-intensity, possession-based and fluid football, at the same time, keeping a high back-line ensuring a smooth transition from defence to attack. Despite a fierce attacking approach, his side has managed to maintain a strong and compact defensive structure and concede way less than those teams playing such football.

The goalkeeper plays a key role in Amorim’s preferred style of play, helping to build from the back sitting in between the two centre-backs and is tasked with a proactive role to orchestrate the attacks and keep the possession during high press. Thus, the keeper needs to be efficient with feet and passing. Another important feature of his formation is the role of double pivot or holding midfielders.

The pivots provide stability in the midfield and help win the possession back and one of those deep-lying midfielders shields the backline. Pivots also drift back to create a passing option for the goalkeeper and defenders while playing out from the back and often bring creativity as well, they are key components of Sporting CP’s press-resistance football.

The 39-year-old relies on high work rate wings back to cover either flank, they are vital cogs in quick counters and high build-up plays and provide the widths on wide channels to push forward in attacks. In addition, the front three in the Portuguese manager’s lineup are important figures in executing the plans of Amorim the two wide forwards take up the role of inside forwards often acquiring the half-spaces.

While wide wingers float inside, the wing-backs usually make overlapping runs on wide areas that go forward in the box outnumbering the opposition and delivering crosses and cut-back passes to strikers to score goals. It’s one of the factors, why Sporting CP number nine, Viktor Gyökeres has been bagging goals at an incredible rate. Notably, there’s no role for creative number ten in Ruben Amorim’s philosophy.

Trophies and Achievements as Manager

In March 2020, Ruben Amroim was appointed as the manager of Sporting CP and led the Portuguese club to their first-ever League title after a long wait of 19 years in the 2020/21 season and won his second domestic title last season. Apart from that, He has steered to club to clinch two successive (Taca da Liga) the Portuguese League Cup twice with Sporting and once with Braga FC. He also guided them to secure a Portuguese Super Cup triumph in the 2021/22 season, these are a few significant titles he has won during his brief and successful managerial career so far.

Is Ruben Amorim the right fit for Man United?

Ruben Amorim would make a great addition to Man United if given enough freedom and choice of players. There are already other clubs and managers who are doing well with this tactical approach and his attacking style of play, fluidity, and high backline football have the potential to work wonders in Premier League matches. Additionally, the 39-year-old manager has a reputation for promoting academy prospects and developing them into first-team players, something he has done at Sporting over the years and should continue to do so at Old Trafford as well.

How could Man United lineup under Ruben Amorim?

With Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation and efficient attacking style, here’s how Man United could line up in the Premier League and UEFA Europa League matches. Andre Onana is expected to start as their custodian. He also leads the golden glove race with the most clean sheets in the Premier League 2024/25 campaign. Three-man defence is expected to consist of Maguire, De Ligt, and Martinez as the first choice names.

The wingback duties would be performed by Mazraoui and Diego Dalot, while the pivot role could be swapped to Casemiro and Mainoo or even Bruno Fernandes in double. Among the options for the left are Alejandro Garnacho, Fernandes or Amad Dialo, Marcus Rashford, Anthony, and Rasmus Hojlund. As the sole striker, Rasmus Hojlund will lead the line.

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